This study focuses on aquatic mites from the Portuguese Exclusive Economic Zone, including the mainland area, and Madeira and Azores archipelagos, aiming at compiling all existing information and generating a list of species and all their data on collecting sites. For the present work, we consider aquatic species, those that inhabit the marine, deep sea, intertidal, freshwater, transition water or brackish environments, with life-cycle occurring entirely at water habitats or their vicinity. Furthermore, breeding should take place in water aquatic lifestyles. The dataset search for this checklist started with the first descriptions of water acarids from the Azores Archipelago performed by Théodore Barrois. Primary sources for occurrence confirmation were Süßwasserfauna von Mitteleuropa book collection, The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), complemented with an extensive Portuguese literature review and data biodiversity websites, e.g., European Water Mite Research (Watermite.org). In total, 102 valid species were found belonging to 41 genera, and 19 families, nested in the orders Mesostigmata, Sarcoptiformes and Trombidiformes. This is the first work compiling all the species of aquatic mites found in Portuguese territory, as well as data of collection, serving as the basis for future studies.

This work aimed to raise ocean awareness of 6th-grade students using marine invertebrates and integrating ludic activities within the curricula. Forty-two students from two public elementary schools from Northeast Brazil were selected. A pre-experimental design with pre-test/post-test was followed, using a questionnaire on ocean-environmental-related topics, and applying an inquiry-based learning approach. The ludic procedures were effective to improve the perception and learning of the students on the importance of oceans and the need for their preservation. We highlight the necessity for including more active methods to promote such awareness in schools.

Acari are a subclass of chelicerate arthropods that includes mites and ticks. The present study focuses on the taxonomic diversity of aquatic mites in the Portuguese territory of the Minho Region. Our aim was to compile all available information and thus generate a list of species linking them to the site where they were recorded. Aquatic species were all those that live exclusively in the marine environment, deep sea, intertidal, freshwater, brackish water or in transitional environments with the terrestrial environment if their lifestyle is associated with the aquatic environment. Since the first records of Portuguese endemic mites by Lunblad in the 1950s several authors have contributed to accurately catalogue, record, and redescribe this vast group in Portugal and Minho consecutively. In our review in this work, we used the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) to obtain previous occurrences supplemented by an extensive literature review and the book collection Süßwasserfauna von Mitteleuropa, among others. Additionally, we resorted to active sampling and by-catch sampling in the Portuguese section of the Rio Minho catchment area. The collected organisms represent 12 new records for the Minho River and among them 10 are new records for Portugal, which were deposited in the Natural History Museum of the Iberian Peninsula - NatMIP (“Museu de História Natural da Península Ibérica”), Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal.

Red calcareous algae create bio-aggregations ecosystems constituted by carbonate calcium, with two main morphotypes: geniculate and non-geniculate structures (rhodoliths may form bio-encrustations on hard substrata or unattached nodules). This study presents a bibliographic review of the order Corallinales (specifically, rhodoliths), highlighting on morphology, ecology, diversity, related organisms, major anthropogenic influences on climate change and current conservation initiatives. These habitats are often widespread geographically and bathymetrically, occurring in the photic zone from the intertidal area to depths of 270 m. Due to its diverse morphology, this group offers a special biogenic environment that is favourable to epiphyte algae and a number of marine invertebrates. They also include holobiont microbiota made up of tiny eukaryotes, bacteria and viruses. The morphology of red calcareous algae and outside environmental conditions are thought to be the key forces regulating faunistic communities in algae reefs. The impacts of climate change, particularly those related to acidification, might substantially jeopardise the survival of the Corallinales. Despite the significance of these ecosystems, there are a number of anthropogenic stresses on them. Since there have been few attempts to conserve them, programs aimed at their conservation and management need to closely monitor their habitats, research the communities they are linked with and assess the effects they have on the environment.

This study presents the species of echinoderms found inside rhodolith branches from Seixas Beach, State of Paraíba, Brazil, during one year of rhodolith sampling. A total of 64 specimens were analyzed and identified into 12 species, belonging to 11 genera, eight families and three classes. Brief taxonomic descriptions, figures and ecological notes for recorded species are provided. Ophiuroidea and Holothuroidea were the most representative taxa. Biogenic structures are an important habitat for young specimens and some small species of Echinodermata. Some species complete their life cycle in these structures, while others spend part of their life in these substrates and may also migrate to other habitats. The work complements the knowledge of echinoderm biodiversity from Northeastern of Brazil and aims to support future projects of protection and sustainable management of this area.